Overview
Bernburg wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 65,000 people in Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Bernburg wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility located in Bernburg, a town in the Salzlandkreis district of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It serves a population of around 65,000, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater bodies from agglomerations of this size. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet the directive's standards for organic matter and nutrient removal, ensuring compliance with national and EU water quality goals. The treated effluent is discharged into the Saale River, a major tributary of the Elbe River, which flows into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Saale's water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems in the Elbe basin.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Saale River, which flows northward to join the Elbe River near Barby. The Elbe then continues through Germany to the North Sea. This river system supports diverse aquatic habitats and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive basin.
Frequently asked questions
The Bernburg wastewater treatment plant is located in Bernburg, a town in the Salzlandkreis district of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 65,000 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Saale River, a tributary of the Elbe River, which ultimately flows into the North Sea.
As a German facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater.
Plants of this scale in Germany typically provide at least secondary treatment, including biological processes to remove organic matter and nutrients, in line with EU directive requirements.
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